The Broadsheet February 2016

for the parishes of with Simonburn & Wark, and with Birtley, Gunnerton & Thockrington

During the Humshaugh Benefice vacancy The Revd. Michael J Slade please contact the Churchwardens: Vicar, Chollerton with Birtley, Humshaugh: John McCollum (681682) or Gunnerton & Thockrington Roger Langford (681195) Tel: 01434 681721 Simonburn: Judith Brown (681371) or email: [email protected] Veronica Allgood (689533) www.chollerton-churches.org.uk Wark: Ann Bell (230259) or John Cooper (230367) For clergy matters, contact the Rural Dean: The Revd. Dr Susan Ramsaran (220019) www.humshaughbenefice.org.uk Chollerton Vicarage

Dear friends, A day or so after Christmas Day found me listening to the radio first thing in the morning. Trailing a programme to be aired later that morning the announcer was inviting listeners to phone in with their ideas of what to name the time between Christmas and New Year. There was no mention of an existing name for this period at all. I found myself firmly saying to the radio: ‘It already has a name and that name is Christmas.’ Had the BBC not heard of the Twelve Days of Christmas? Then I thought they should call it ‘Shopper-tide’ because, if we believe what we read, that is what most of us feel the need to do so soon after spending in the run up to Christmas. After Christmas the season of Epiphany then follows on January 6th by which time Christmas trees have been taken down and normality re- turned to our living rooms. If people have an idea of what Christmas is about they are probably less certain about the season of Epiphany. Epipha- ny means ‘manifestation’, ‘showing forth’, the time when Jesus is being revealed and recognised for the special man he is. Stories to illustrate this are read from the Bible each week in church: about his baptism, when he turned water into wine at a wedding in Cana in Galilee, the account of him reading from the scroll in the synagogue and the visit of the three wise men from the East with their precious gifts fit for a king. Then, on Ash Wednesday, we look in a completely different direction; from the stable in Bethlehem to the cross of Jerusalem. This day marks the beginning of Lent. Readings each week trace his journey through a land where he chal- lenged people to think about their relationship with God. He attracted many and upset some. These responses intensify in the days between Palm Sunday and Good Friday, and at the Cross a sword pierces Mary’s soul as Simeon said it would when he held baby Jesus in his arms thirty-odd years earlier - which is another reading we use during Epiphany. Lent gives us that annual opportunity to think on God, eat more simply (and perhaps even give up something) and make some space availa- ble for our spirit to engage with something far greater than any power on Earth. All these seasons, Christmas, Epiphany and Lent, hold special mean- ing should we choose to engage with them. I hope you have engaged with Christmas and enjoyed the mystery and wonder of the birth in Jerusalem, thought about the wise men and their special gifts and will think on the shadow of the cross as we have the opportunity of accompanying Jesus along the road to it. With many blessings and love to you and yours,

Mike

2 Round and about Humshaugh

Mothers’ Union

The Mothers’ Union held their Corporate Communion, led by Revd. Michael Slade, in St Peter’s church in January. A rather nice array of scones and cakes followed… On Thursday, February 4th, the members will watch a film, made by Irish 12 year old boys. The film is called “Hide and Seek” and tells a story about a Dutch family during the second World War. The meeting will be held at the Langfords’ home and starts at 2pm.

Pub Quiz

The December Quiz, held on December 15, was won by “Half of Six” and raised £140 for the Hospice at Home. On Tuesday 16 February, the Quiz will be held in aid of Friends of Humshaugh School. They would like to fund-raise for a Bamburgh trip in March, so it would be great if many people could come that evening. It will start at 8pm and Mick Jonas will be Question Master.

Hap (Humshaugh Art Project)

On Friday 12 February at 7pm, the HAP film will be the 1940’s black and white classic “Brief Encounter”. Ticket prices are £5.00 for adults and £2.50 for children. There will be 1940’s High Tea on sale and we will begin with a short talk on the iconic film before viewing. Do join us for an evening of romance, heartbreak and (non curly) British Rail sandwiches and cakes to die for!!

Liesbeth Langford

3 WARK PARISH NEWS

February! Where has time gone since we last chatted? Lots has happened in Wark, some good along with the sad. The Christmas decs probably will be by now stored away in the attic so that frantic time is behind us.

All those years ago, whilst at school, we had a little ditty that went something like `rain, rain go away and come back another day’ the rest in my elderly years I cannot remember however how many times we all must have said something to that effect over the December/January period and as I write these notes the rain has gone and the cold spell has set in.

Under the headline in The Telegraph today (14th Jan) Church of worshippers fall below a million it indicates that attendance at services has plunged to its lowest level ever. Let me tell you here in St Michael’s, over Christmas, had many attendees; we could not have managed millions, however the school and our own `select your favourite carol’ service were fantastic. A sincere thank you to all who helped and took part along with a great thank you to those who came along

On the sad time I must record the death of Grant Hutton, a life taken too soon, no words I could write will fill the space his death has left for a number of families within the area. Please be assured our thoughts are with you each day and week as we pray in St. Michael’s.

At this time I wish to record how sad all were to learn of the death of Francis Xavier de Vivenot. Francis, with his clapped out pick up truck, was a regular in the village. He was a true gentleman who will be remembered by many.

On to happier times; the wonderful Ladies Guild, one in particular will be out obtaining new attire (poor Richard - watch the bank account) to enjoy cucumber, without the skin, sandwiches, at Buck Pal - a well deserved reward, believe me. Just what we would do without Ann at St. Michael’s: - flowers, cleaning, keeping us under control—the list goes on. Enjoy the day and come back to tell us all what she – the Queen—wore and did she shake your hand! Without this band of ladies St. Michael’s , I can tell you now, would be in a sorry state. They now celebrate, they believe, their 40th birthday this March so are to, on a date and in a venue to be confirmed, hosting a celebration lunch for current, founding or lapsed members. The date is probably 10th March 2016. The March BROADSHEET will have further information.

Those wonderful ladies are also arranging a Bingo within Wark Town Hall (why do we call it a Town Hall? – all sounds very grand) on Tuesday 1st March so look out for posters and come along, as I know you do, with pens and get serious 4 Typing` serious’ brings to mind we, St. Michael’s, have at the DAC’s request (the odd body that overlooks us) sent them our application for the `Listed Places of Worship Roof Repair Fund.’ Hours have been spent by a number on this to obtain a grant to keep St. Michael’s open along with keeping water off your head (it does run to 16 pages, at least of questions).

I have not looked so far at Easter services, they will be early, however we have decided upon Tuesday 25th February for our `LENT LUNCH’ soup, a few grapes and a good chat in the Westacres Community Room from 12noon to 2pm this year so look out for notices and please do come along to support us. Another request, please do not ask me about a new vicar as the powers that be are very silent, otherwise I would be rejoicing.

So with God’s blessing I say to all, love from John And I do mean that PS. I have just photographed, for a very dear friend, their church for a parish card for 2016. Let us set ourselves a challenge to come up with something we could do .

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Lent Groups

Our Lent discussion groups begin the week commencing February 15th. There will be three groups offered again this year, in on Tuesdays, on Wednesdays (7 Chishillways at 7.00pm beginning with homemade soup) and Humshaugh on Thursdays (The Coinings, East Farm at 11.00am ending with a light lunch). We shall be following a course called ‘The Psalms: prayers for today’s church’ over five weeks. We shall address questions such as ‘Why do the wicked prosper?’ and ‘Where is God when we suffer?’ as well as the many problems we still face in our world including suffering, violence, injustice, anger and bewilderment. The Rev’d Christine Bull (672303) will have details of meetings in the Bingfield area and there will be sign-up sheets in Chollerton, Gunnerton, Birtley and Thockrington churches with details of meetings or you can ring Mike on 681721. Booklets will be available for those who wish to order them in advance by no later than February 7th at £3.50 each and are worth every penny.

5 SERVICES FOR FEBRUARY 2016 Benefice of Chollerton Benefice of Humshaugh Sunday 7th February - The Sunday next before Lent 9.00 Gunnerton Holy Communion 9.30 Humshaugh 1662 Communion 10.30 Birtley Service of the Word 11.00 Simonburn Holy Communion 6.00 Wark Evening Prayer Old Testament: Exodus 34:29-end Epistle: 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2 Gospel: Luke 9:28-36 Psalm: 99 Wednesday 10th February - Ash Wednesday 7.30pm Gunnerton Holy Communion and Imposition of Ashes Old Testament: Isaiah 58:1-12 Epistle: 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 Gospel: John 8:1-11 Psalm: 51:1-18 Sunday 14th February - The First Sunday of Lent 9.00 Thockrington Holy Communion 9.30 Humshaugh Morning Prayer 10.30 Chollerton Holy Communion 11.00 Simonburn Morning Prayer 6.00 Wark Holy Communion Old Testament: Deuteronomy 26:1-11 Epistle: Romans 10:8b-13 Gospel: Luke 4:1-13 Psalm: 91:1-11 Sunday 21st February - The Second Sunday of Lent 9.00 Gunnerton Holy Communion 9.30 Humshaugh Holy Communion 10.30 Birtley Holy Communion 11.00 Simonburn Holy Communion 6.00 Wark Evening Prayer Old Testament: Genesis 15:1-12, 17- Epistle: Philippians 3:17-4:1 18 Gospel: Luke 13:31-end Psalm: 27

Sunday 28th February - The Third Sunday of Lent 9.00 Thockrington BCP Communion 9.30 Wark Holy Communion 10.30 Chollerton Holy Communion 11.00 Simonburn Morning Prayer 6.30pm Humshaugh Evening Prayer Old Testament: Isaiah 55:1-9 Epistle: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 Gospel: Luke 13:1-9 Psalm: 63:1-9 Sunday 6th March - The Fourth Sunday of Lent (Mothering Sunday) 9.00 Gunnerton Family Communion 9.00 Holy Communion - at Wall 10.30 Birtley Family Communion 11.00 Simonburn Holy Communion 6.00 Wark Evening Prayer

Old Testament: Exodus 2:1-10 Epistle: 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 Gospel: Luke 2:33-35 Psalm: Psalm 127:1-4

6 MeSsY cHuRcH Our next Messy Church meets on Saturday March 12th at 3.00pm in Barrasford Village Hall. Please note this is the second Saturday of the month, not the third when we usually meet. Children of all ages welcome for fun activities, a short worship time of singing and praying and a lovely family meal to end with. We are normally finished by 5.00pm. All welcome, both old and new. Children only accompanied by an adult, preferably parents or grandparents. It’s free but if you wish to leave a donation all money is ploughed back into Messy Church, thank you. More information from Mike or Fiona (681721).

The Chollerton Stable Block and Hearse House Despite the wet weather the contractors got on very well finishing the reroofing of both the Stable and Hearse House before Christmas. Some finishing touches were completed early in the New Year and now we have some work to do indoors such as reinstalling the power supply and rewiring. We have been in consultation with County Council regarding water flowing down the road and into the Hearse House and investigations will take place about road levels. We hope that we can stop the large ponds appearing after rain in front of the church so that the water flows away more easily. Mike

From the Registers

Holy Baptism We welcomed into the Family of the Church Philippa Harriet Murray was baptised on Sunday 3rd January at St.Mungo’s Church Simonburn

Funerals and Memorial Services

We celebrated the life of Lena Mary Sparke, aged 91, at Chollerton St Giles on Wednesday November 25th 2015 Elma Kate Weir, aged 84, at Chollerton St Giles on Thursday December 17th 2015 Grant Hutton, aged 23, at Wark St Michael on Wednesday December 30th 2015 R I P

7 Community Events in Gunnerton Church

Gunnerton Lunch Club

Wednesday February 24th 12noon-1.00pm Delicious homemade soup and pudding, tea and coffee, raffle £2.50

All welcome

Gunnerton Railway Circle Tuesday March 1st Gordon Hodgson – an engine driver working with preserved steam on the Settle and Carlisle Railway Refreshments from 7.00pm, meetings begin at 7.30pm

For many years a Bonus Ball club has run each week to provide regular financial support for the fabric of Gunnerton church. To choose a vacant Ball number and so have a chance of winning a weekly cash prize please ring Susan Reay on 681852 as soon as possible.

Bookings for Gunnerton Church may be made by contacting Susan Reay on 01434 681852

Birtley Village Hall

Birtley & District Gardening Group

th February 9 Preparing for the Show

Speaker: Gary McDermott, Harperley Hall Nursery Garden from 7.30pm for 7.45pm The group always welcomes new visitors or prospective members

whether experienced or rookie gardeners

The annual membership for 2015/16 season is £20.00 Guests/single talks £4.00

8 Coffee Morning

February 4th from 10.30am to 12.00 noon Delicious coffee, home bakes great conversation guaranteed!

Birtley Local History Group At Birtley Village Hall supper room Thursday February 17th at 7.30pm “Subject to be advised” Further details from Mary White 01434 230307

Birtley Book Club

We would like to start a book club in Birtley in early spring. Please contact Sally if you are interested in joining us. [email protected] Tel: 01434 230519

Mob: 07732388501

Birtley Film Nights Many thanks for your support with the proposed establishment of a regular film night at Birtley Village Hall. This email is an update

of our current situation. To date we have run 2 pilot film nights to try to establish the feasibility of purchasing our own village hall equipment. We have also collated information from the survey sheets you kindly completed. The following outlines this data: Preferred night: Thursday with Wednesday as second choice; Preferred start time: An equal number of people preferred 7:30 and 8pm As a result of these pilots we have decided the following: We need to make sure that the film nights are sustainable before applying for large grants for equipment. At the moment we have a donated projector and possibly speakers. We can provide a DVD player. A local business has also very kindly donated money towards these set-up costs. In these initial stages we will therefore trial setting up this equipment in the hall. If we deem it suitable we will run another film in February.

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We do not feel that Birtley can attract a large enough audience to sustain purchasing a single licence for each film shown. We would prefer that the Village Hall Committee purchases an annual licence and that the film night is offered as a community resource. This would mean that we could not advertise or charge for admission. Donations would, however, be appreciated. If the film nights are to continue we would like to set up a committee whose main responsibility would be film choices and help in setting up. Meetings would be kept to an absolute minimum. We would very much appreciate any feedback from you, our potential audience. We already have one person who would be willing to join the film committee. Please let us know if this would be of interest to you. Just letting us know if you want this as a community resource would also be helpful. Anyone who has any technical know-how in relation to this please contact Paul ASAP.

Paul Dennis Mob: 07800854009 Tel: 01434 230519 Email: [email protected] We hope that we can find a successful way forward and would appreciate any ideas/support at this stage.

Best wishes, Paul and Sally

Other Church services within the Chollerton Benefice

Barrasford Methodist Chapel: Normally services are at 6.30pm each Sunday. Great Swinburne: St Mary’s RC Church. Mass at 10.15am and 12.00 Noon every Sunday, the 12 o’clock Mass in the Extraordinary Form, said in Latin.

Enquiries to Fr Bede (Tel: 681968)

Chollerton WI

In February we will be celebrating our Birthday with a social evening and March is our Annual Meeting. In April, Major Charles Enderby will give a talk about The Yeoman of the Guard and Bumblebees is the subject for our May meeting. We meet on the first Wednesday of the month in Barrasford Village Hall, and new members and visitors are always welcome. Pauline

10 Tea parties …take place once a month from 2pm to 4pm. Everyone is welcome and they are particularly aimed at those who would appreciate some friendly company once in a while.

They are always the second Wednesday in each month. The next tea par- ty is on Wednesday 10th February. Please put it in your diary and do try to come along. It would also be wonderful if each helper could bring one new person with them – this is a challenge I know, but let’s see if we can do it!

Lifts can be arranged for those who do not have their own transport. Please contact: Alice Murphy on 01434 689387 or her mobile: 07968 396938

You are invited to a Musical Evening in the company of Roly Johnson, Kathy Anderson, Roddy Matthews and Mike Gibson

on Friday February 5th at 7.00pm At Wall Village Hall

Guest speaker Hendrick Mahlanghu, from South Africa £5 per person including light refreshments To book please ring Richard on 01434 681847, Jill on 681787 or Tony on 681909

Perspectives – Christian Vision for Men in the Tyne Valley Perspectives is an informal men’s breakfast event featuring speakers who explore topical issues and their own life and career experiences from a Christian perspective. We usually meet on the last Saturday of each month at the Vallum Farm on the Military Road near from 8.30 to 10.00am. Full English breakfast is £10, continental breakfast £7.50. Next meeting 27th Febru- ary with speaker Mick Nobbs ‘Musings of an Ex-Muso’ Book by emailing [email protected] Website: www.perspectivescvfm.org.uk

11 Simonburn Notes.

I know it is now February but Happy New Year to one and all. To me, It didn't feel a lot like Christmas, mainly due to the temperature being so mild, but the spring flowers must be very confused because as I write, we now have snow and it has been bitterly cold. Many thanks to all that came to decorate the Christmas Tree and church with beautiful flowers, it makes a difference when more people come together. This was just in time for the concert in church, which I have been told was an excellent musical evening. Our Carol Service was well attended, even on the filthy night that it was. The mince pies and mulled wine went down a treat! On Sunday 3rd January, we welcomed into the church family, Philippa Harriet Murray as she was baptised. She was so happy when she received the sign of the cross and also wanted to hold the candle herself.

Many of you will have noticed that the area in front of the church has been cordoned off, as it has become extremely muddy, due to the amount of rain we have had and cars driving and parking on it, so can we please use the carpark, when possible. Thank you.

On Friday 4th March, The Women’s World Day of Prayer, is to be held in St. Mungo's. All people and denominations are invited i.e. not just women as the title suggests. The time will be confirmed in the March edition of the Broadsheet.

Leprosy Mission and used stamps

Thank you to all those who have supplied me with so many stamps for Leprosy Mission over the years. It is hard to believe that used stamps can help transform the life of someone affected by leprosy but over the past 30 years these stamps have helped, along with other collectables, to raise over £1million to benefit those affected. It takes seconds to rescue a used stamp from an envelope destined for the recycling bin, but by doing so you are helping to provide healthcare for people in desperate need. Please do continue to collect your stamps. They may be left in the box on the table at the back of St. Mungo's or at 1 Red Lion Terrace.

Thank You. Judith Brown

Congratulations to Peter Richardson, on winning two awards, from his employer Go North East. Employee of the year and also Unsung Hero of the Year, for his dedication to his job, despite a lot of personal adversity. Well Done Peter. Best wishes Sharon 12